Beet-topper.



I PATENTED OUT. 15, 1907. n. T. 'BLEVINS & s. R. GIDDINGS.

BEE'I' TOPPBR. n'rmu'nxoli run!) we. 27. me.

a snsms-snnsf 1.

868,593. PATENTED OCT. 15, 1907.

D. T. BLEVINS & S. R. GIDDINGS. BBET TOPPER.

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 27. 190

I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v wmeowo v I g SIM manic;

No. 868,593. 'PATENTED 063115 1907. D. T. BLBVINS & S. Ra GIDDINGS.

BBET TOPP ER APPLIOATIOX FILED 27. 1906. v

. gnwmtow yak elk T014191 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID 'l.. BLEYIXS, OF WINDSOR, AND SQL'lI-RE RALPH GIDDINGS, OF TI'MNATH, COLORADO, ASSIGXORS -BY DIRECT AND MESXF ASSTGNM EXIS, TO THE YANKEE BEET 'IOPPER COMPANY, OF TIMNATH, COLORADO.

BEET-TOPPER.

at. beenv V Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 190-7.

Application filed August 27, 1906. Serial No. 382.139.

of Weld, State of Go1orado,' and the said Semen RALPH inera n d s haVe invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Toppers; and we do declare theiollowi to be a full, clear, and exact desc'ript' n of I n, such as will enable others skilled, ji'e' H Th hit appertains to make and use the same; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to-theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, w'hich'form a part of this specification.

"011i ifiv'ention'relates t6 improvements in beet toppersyour object la eiiig toprovide anapparatus adapted to top-allxthe beets 'at the proper place regardless of the lojcat' n fthe topoi the beet with reference to P The bodies of vegetables of thischa l;-ter are so times entirely concealed by the earth,- w-hile-in othe ases they project above the surface."*If'aconstfuction-were employed which conftiiiuallyodiipied' uniform plane with reference to too high while others would be topped too low.

, punt ar istic;

the surface ofth e earth, some beets would be topped and combinations hereinafter 1 fwh ich will be fully underccompanying drawing in d n, ezn odiment thereof. resl: is a. side elevation of our on witli one of the ground wheels removed, theaxllebeingfshown in section. Fig. 2 isa top plan, .wiew ofth niplete'machine. Fig. 3 is a view similar to-.I]5?i'g.-' but-with the beet; topping dei- 1611. Fig. 4 is a rear view of I 4 arrow'in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is 'a detail view showing the knifeandsgagerbar's-athe structure being shown in op- Fig. 7 is a detail view is mounted a yoke 16 com- 16 passing above the ooking in the direction of the est-to be topped. Fig. 6 is atongue 7 ,{and dependingside parts 16 apertured to receive the axle 6. These side parts extend below the axle and to their lower extremities are pivotally c0nnected the forward extremities of links 8 which extend rearwardly, their rear extreihitiesbeing pivotally connected as shown at 9 with a frame member 10 composed of a top transverse part A, vertical side parts B, parts C extending rearwardly at right angles to the parts B, and a rear transverse part D connecting the parts 0.

Centrally mounted bn the transverse part D of the frame 10, is a vertically adjustable knife 12 having a shank 13 vertically movable in a keeper 14, by means of a set bolt 15. The blade 12 of this knife is forwardly inclined and is so located as to perform the beet topping function as the machine is drawn across the field with its ground wheels on each side of the row. The frame 10 is further connected with the yoke by means of links 8 whose forward extremities are pivotally connected with the yoke as shownat 8 and whose rear extremities are pivotally connected with the frame 10 as shown at 8.

Journaled in thelower part of the frame 10 and at the angles thereof is a shaft 17' whose central portion is threaded as shown at- 18 and passes through a rotary disk 19 which is held in place on the shaft by nuts 20. threaded on the shaft and secured tightly against the disk on opposite sides. This disk is supposed to occupy a central position with reference to the beets to be topped and 'is adaptedto enter the beet to a depth intersecting the plane in which the topping knife 12 travels. The depth of .the cut of the rotary disk is regulated by a number of gage bars 21 whose lower extremities fare Thereiore bythe vertical adjustment of these gage bars I the depth of the cut of the rotary disk may be determined and this depth of cutof the disk determines the depth of cut of the topping knife which is located" close to the lowermost segment of the disk ,and immediately in the rear thereof. As the topping knife andof the latter.

bars (threeb ngshown in the drawing), so that? at weight 22 connected with the forward arm 2.3 of a lever- ]ilre device 24 whose rear extremity is bifurcated being composed oftwo separated arms 25, to the rear extremity of each oi which is attached a hanger 26 whose lower extremity is provided with it loop 27 thiough which passes a. link 8. This loop is suillciently large to permit it to slide somewhat freely upon the link, so that a limited degree oi adjustment is thereby permitted. Tho' lever-like device 24 is l'ulcrumed on the yoke lli as shown at 24 elu-h arm 25 being pivotally connected with the yoke at the point stated. fljhc axle in addition to the support of the yoke, is further supphrted by braces 28 which lead forwardly from the mile to the tongue or pole7. The wear part of the tongue is provided with a seat 29 for the driver.

Th o i'otarymovement is imparted to the disk 19 from the axle 6 which is provided with a sprocket wheel 30 from which 'leacls a' chain 31 to a pinion 32 last on a shaft 33 journaled in the frame member 10. Upon this some shaft is mounted a sprocket 34 which is cornice-t ed by a chain 35, with'a sprocket fifi last on the shaft 17. Sprocket 34 is of ii larger diafiieter than sprocket 30, and the sprocket 30 of a. larger diameter than the sprocket '36. By this arrangement the sprocket 36 is caused to rotate at agreater speed than the ground wheels thereby imparting'to the disk 19 a greater speed, This enables thc disk 19 to enter the beet more freely and produce'bctter resultthan a, disk with less speed or :Ldisk with the same speed as the gro'uml wheels.

From this it will be u nderstood that as the machine is dmwn across the field in the'direction indicated by the sin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, motion will be imported. to

oi oi the ground wheels. As before stated 11c straddles the row oi beets or other vegetable to-lbs topped and the disk 19 will always enter the ground until it. finds the hector :will engage the top of the lisct vabove the ground where it protrudes above. This disk together with the bars 21, serves as a sort-of gage to regulate the depthor topping plane of the lmife 12. it will be understood that the disk will biiurcate the top or woody portion of the beet to be removed, after which the topping lmiie 12* will remove th e bifurcated part as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the dr swing.

The tension of the driving chain 31 is regulated by asmalli'dler sprocket 37 mounted on it holder 38 secured to one of the links-8; Th side 16 of the yoke are provided with al number of o rings 16 whereby the links Saswell as the lever-like device 24 may be -of these bolts the-bill" ethyl "be raised and lowcredat wheels. of an auxiliary frame, avllnk connsctlp Win the forward direction or in the direction V gearing connection between the 1 I a U said disk for imparting rotary movement to t V to which the cutting disk enters,

. rotating therewith, of a yoke moi-in'teiddtlicreu rrient, a. lever like device fulcru nedon the yoke i vided with a counterbalance w'oi'g t i I. the fulcrum from the said weight". zgcut'tingdiskmvolirbly connected with the yoke at cny desired distance above f wanted Drum flfamd membm- .Mlld ntral] Jowtgg 1 tween the ground wheels, a topping k in the upper extremity b ,means for imparting, rotary mijf' assing' through a slot 41 iorinedi. ,in thoauxilia-ry frazn' nember. By loosening the nuts member connected with the yoke to perm pleasure and vi e--11 properly adj iistcd may be locked in 66 place: 7

Having thus described our invention, what We clailnis: I

l. The combination with :1 ni'ain' Home o'nrl'grolmil wheels, of an auxiliary frame. connected with the 11min 7() lrnn'uto permit vertical movement, it lever-like device lulcrluued on the main frame and provided with counterbalance weight. the lever-like device being connected with the 'euxlliury frame on the opposite side' of thc'fulizl'um from lhe said weight, a topping knife mounted on the auxiliary frame, and a gage also mounted on the auxlljury frame for regulating the plane of cut oil-the to plug kilitc. w

L, The combination with a maln l-ran ei andrl-groundq she e 5 ,lhe main frame and the auxiliary f" me lve fulcruuicd on the main frame n nizhcoii acted 'to re zufliii the vertical movement of the'augclliary fismqflie s'iiltl device being provided with azcougi topping knife mounted on the auxi also mounted on the auxiliary f zi plane of out of the topping knife.

Il, The combination with a -mlilfi; f1ei wheels, of an auxiliary frame connected-with" wheels to permit independent 'vertlcs l u ovement ,a;.c n ttl disk rovolubly mounted on the aiix iiiitry trairi'c, aind g 1;? bars also mounted on the uuxlliiiryframeonopposite sides of the cutting disk for regulating-- the depth tow'lilch the curling disk enters the beets to betopped; ands to -,1 ping knife mounted on thenuxlllary iramclnftheicnr of lhe culling disk. v i v 4. 'lhc combination with an of groli which the axle rotates, and a maili fism'ic, Frame connected with the main'ifiru n pendent vertical movement, a s auxiliary frame, a cutting disk f miaptedl:o rotiite therewith, ii nailed in the auxiliary frame, meahs forllinbhit"?! not movement from the axle to tbegconr tsrrslreit; c ili-means for operating the disk shaft from t The combination of a main frame undgr of an auxiliary frame, two pairs oflinks conn disk rcvolubly mounted on the aurgilinryl jranio ant gage bars also mounted .on thea-iiirilblry, pp site sides of the cutting disk fmijiregnlaiiinwitlle ills-lithe;

t'wb f fi i 1 and a topping knife mounted on he sluggilla" the rear of the cutting disk, r

7. Tliecombination with lgroliiill ti hcslsa member connected with the yoke tq -p grmit nwcct the er (1 the opposi being connected with the frame our of on the frame member in the real: of ti the axle, substantially as described;

8. The, combination with gi'ound wheel and rotating therewith, of a. yoke mounted' there'g movement, a lever-like device fuicr'u'med on the yoke and thee isle at a greater speed than the travel of the ground 10 provided Wit a counterbalance weight, the lever-like wheels;

device being connected with the frame on the opposite In' testimony whereof we atfix our signatures in presence siide 01 the fulcrum from the said weight, a cutting .disk of two witnesses.

'5 revulribiy mounted on the frame member and centrally- DAVID T. BLEVINS. 100M943 T tween the ground wheels, a topping knife also SQUIRE RALPH GIDDINGS. mouxate... 0a the frame member in the rear of the rotary Witnesses: disk, am megns for imparting rotary mdvemer t to the JOHN ALI CROSS,

disk" fmm theexle and adapted to impe "movement to ISAAC J. MEADE. 

